Digital Commons Network^™

Where And Why Do Ecosystem-Based Adaption Projects Take Place In California?, Daniel K. Jacobson

Master's Theses

California is experiencing the harmful impacts of climate change and will continue to do so for generations. As a result, municipalities have been forced to turn to adaptation solutions to help local residents adjust to inevitable impacts such as sea level rise, extreme heat, and extreme weather. Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA), the use of nature and ecosystem services to help human systems adapt to climate change impacts, is an increasingly popular, cost-effective, and multi-benefit adaptation strategy. While prior research has shown that other forms of adaptation, often referred to as ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ strategies, disproportionately benefit whiter and wealthier populations, there …

Linking Social Dynamics To Private Land Management: A Study Of Prescribed Burn Associations In Northern California, Spencer R. Klinefelter

Master's Theses

Prescribed fire is one way to improve the adaptive capacity of communities in the wildland urban interface in terms of managing wildfire risk and meeting socio-ecological goals. In California, Prescribed Burn Associations (PBAs) are a way of organizing private landowners with the goal of engaging in more widespread and frequent prescribed fires. This research uses semi-structured interviews with private landowners, along with key informants from public agencies such as CalFire and Regional Parks, to explore PBA development and functioning in northern coastal California. Sonoma and Marin counties were chosen as the primary study sites as they are represented by the …

Tree Removal From An Encroached Coastal Grassland Restores Soil Bacterial Communities Before Fungal Communities, Ka Ki Law

Master's Theses

Woody species encroachment depletes historic grassland biodiversity and degrades ecosystem function around the world. In particular, the encroaching trees can shift soil properties and microbial communities, which play critical roles in plant health and global nutrient cycling. Little is known about how removing encroached trees affects soil ecosystems, however. Over the last century, Pinus radiata and Hesperocyparis macrocarpa (non-native to the area) both encroached into coastal prairies at Rancho Corral de Tierra in California, and selected trees were removed in 2017 and 2018 to restore grassland habitats. To examine the impacts of encroachment and removal on the soil ecosystem, I …

Distribution And Habitat Use By Western Burrowing Owls (Athene Cunicularia Hypugaea) In Alameda, Contra Costa And San Joaquin Counties, California, Jacqueline Taylor

Master's Theses

Grasslands are regularly altered for development, agriculture, and animal farming which leads to habitat destruction and fragmentation and, ultimately, a loss of wildlife species. Though degraded, grassland ecosystems – including native and non-native species - dominate the landscape in the region of the San Francisco Bay Area east of the Bay. The western burrowing owl (Athene cuncularia hypugaea) is a native grassland species of California. The breeding burrowing owl population in the San Francisco Bay Area is resident, but burrowing owls from other parts of the range migrate into the region for the winter. The breeding owl populations in the …

Preservation Of Information Resources And User Satisfaction With The Use Of Library In Oko Polytechnic, Anambra State., Chibueze Norbert Onwuekwe, Chukwuma Simon Olise, Awajionyi Blessing Suleiman

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

ABSTRACT

This research work investigated the preservation of information resources and user satisfaction with the use of library in Oko Polytechnic, Anambra State. The population of the study comprises 39 library staff and sample size of the study was 20 library staff which was selected randomly using simple random sample techniques. Three research questions were formulated to guide this study. Data was collected using the questionnaire, and was analysed with descriptive statistics. The findings of the study revealed that the preservation method of information resources use in Oko Polytechnic includes: Binding, lamination and restoration, dusting/stain removal, fumigation, monitoring and controlling …

User Perception Of The Effectiveness Of Open Access Resources In Academic And Professional Achievements, Eness Munzya Miyanda-Chitumbo Dr., Thomas Van Der Walt Prof., Magdalene Simalalo Dr., Pailet Chewe Mr., Zachary Zulu Mr., Inonge Milupi Dr., Mercy Monde Wamunyima Mrs.

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Abstract.

This study examined the University of Zambia students and researchers’ perception of the relevance of open access resources in their academic and professional work.The investigation was based on continued problem of low usage of online resources provided by the University of Zambia Library to support learning, teaching and research in the University. The study used a mixed-methods approach and took a case study-mixed methods design to investigate the research problem.

Findings:The study revealed that although the overall results showed an average level of awareness and low usage of the open access resources among students and researchers, …

Spartan Daily, September 14, 2022, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2022

Volume 159, Issue 10

Sjsu Erfa News, Summer 2022, San Jose State University, Emeritus And Retired Faculty Association

Emeritus and Retired Faculty Association (ERFA) Newsletter

Volume 35, No 4

Fragmentation Drives Dominant Plant Encroachment On A Horizontal Wastewater Treatment Levee, Joia S. Fishman

Master's Theses

Urban coastal wetlands protect humans from sea-level rise while providing valuable habitat for wildlife. Degradation and loss of these wetlands threaten urban infrastructure such as wastewater treatment facilities. Nature-based adaptive solutions with the combined purposes of bioremediation, coastal defense, and habitat creation are being tested to make communities safer and more resilient. The current research examines a 6-year-old experimental horizontal levee at the Oro Loma Sanitary District in San Lorenzo, California. Using horizontal transects and quadrat sampling, I compare the success of two planting strategies – a wet meadow and a riparian scrub community – on an ecotone slope. I …

The Utilization Of Electronic Journal: Analysis Of The Source Of References For Thesis Writing By Students Of Early Childhood Teacher Education Department, Amirul Mukminin, Edi Waluyo, Diana Diana, Akaat Hasjiandito, Imam Shofwan

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Library technical implementation unit, especially in the sector of journal developers, has subscribed to numerous journals which have international reputation such as Sage, Oxford Journal, Emerald, Cambridge Journal, Springer Link, IEEE, Sage Research Method, ProQuest, and JSTOR. The purpose of this study was to analyze the level of understanding of students in the utilization of electronic journals, to find out what reference sources are used, and to analyze how big the utilization of electronic journals was as references for thesis writing by students in the Department of ECTE. This research utilized a quantitative research method. Respondents in this study were …

Perspectives Of Librarians On Quality Assurance Measures For Admission Of Students In Distance Education Programme In Nigeria, Justina Ngozi Igwe Phd, Stella C. Nwizu Prof, Christian N. Olori Phd

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The quality assurance measures for admission of students into Distance Education (DE) programs in Nigeria were evaluated in this study. The study employed a descriptive survey design, with a total population of Librarians and learners in distance learning centers in Southeast in Nigeria, of which 206 librarians were used in the study. The librarians and learners were chosen using a multi-stage sampling technique. The data gathering instrument was a questionnaire. Three professionals independently validated the instrument. The questionnaire's reliability index was 0.97. The data was analyzed using the mean, standard deviation, and analysis of variance. The findings revealed that quality …

Spartan Daily, April 21, 2022, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2022

Volume 158, Issue 34

Spartan Daily, April 19, 2022, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2022

Volume 158, Issue 32

Spartan Daily, April 7, 2022, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2022

Volume 158, Issue 28

Library Services During Covid-19 Pandemic: A Bibliometric Analysis And Knowledge Mapping, Md. Armanul Haque, Xiaojuan Zhang Dr, Md. Shafiul Alam Dr, Md. Nazmul Hasan, Farzana Islam Any

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The increased usage of libraries during the Covid-19 pandemic has been well known to science communicators, but scientific communication has not evaluated the distributions of its published findings. Thus, this study intends to identify and map library services in international publishing, particularly the Scopus database during the pandemic. Sixty-four publications in the Scopus database were assessed using the bibliometric approach and fifty-seven documents are considered. To find documents from January 2020-June 2021, the author utilized keywords such as library services AND covid-19. Microsoft excels and VOSviewer software was used to analyze the result and visualize the knowledge map. The results …

Spartan Daily, February 24, 2022, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2022

Volume 158, Issue 13

Spartan Daily, February 17, 2022, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2022

Volume 158, Issue 10

A Geographical Contribution On Interurban Passenger Rail Transportation In The United States, Matthieu Schorung

Mineta Transportation Institute

Why does the rail infrastructure of the United States lag behind those of many other developed countries? Where is U.S. high-speed rail? This research approaches this in a dilemma by exploring Amtrak’s traditional rail services and high-speed rail projects in the nation to understand the workings of public rail transportation policies, what they contain, and how they are developed and pursued by the different stakeholders. This research utilizes case studies and a multiscale approach to analyze the territorialization of intercity rail transportation policies. The analysis demonstrates the emergence of a bottom-up approach to projects, notably apparent in the California HSR …

Use Of A Utility-Scale Solar Energy Facility By Avian Populations In Central California, Quratulain Ahmed

Master's Theses

With an ever-increasing demand for renewable energy in response to climate change, utility-scale solar energy (USSE) is on the rise, particularly in California. Although solar energy is viewed as an essential resource for transitioning from a fossil fuel economy, USSE installations can cover thousands of acres of habitat used by avian species. Little is known about the effects of USSE on avian populations, although some evidence suggests that USSE facilities may be leading to bird mortality. The lake-effect hypothesis suggests that birds may mistake solar arrays for large bodies of water resulting in injury or mortality. Though several studies describe …

Impacts Of Transit-Oriented Development Through The Eyes & Lives Of Low-Income Latinx Residents: A Case Study In Fruitvale, Oakland, Diana Saavedra

Master's Theses

Transit-oriented development (TOD) is often showcased as a solution for private vehicle dependency and growing climate issues. Although TOD seems promising, it usually has harsh, unforgiving effects such as ecological gentrification. Ecological gentrification occurs when lower-income communities, especially of color, are pushed out of their neighborhoods due to the implementation of an environmental amenity, benefit, or service. However, research suggests that TODs that apply Transportation Justice principles seem to produce more equitable results. This study explores the Fruitvale Village TOD, located in Fruitvale, Oakland, California. This TOD was selected because it is unique in its conception and implementation, as it …

Historic Ohlone Resource Distribution Within The Alameda Creek Watershed, Naseem Fazeli

Master's Theses

The Alameda Creek watershed is located within the ancestral homeland of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area. Their ancestors historically utilized a variety of plants for food, medicine, ceremonies, and building materials, with their understanding of the value of the plants based on traditional ecological knowledge (TEK). The arrival of Spanish, and later Anglo/American, colonists beginning in the mid-18th century introduced urbanization and European agricultural practices, which have degraded wildlands and impacted species richness and diversity. As interest in environmental restoration has been increasing in recent decades, the present-day Muwekma Ohlone Tribe has an opportunity to …

Co-Composted Biochar Improves Dry-Farmed Tomato Productivity In The Santa Clara Valley, Ca, With No Change In Soil Microbiology, Duncan A. Keller

Master's Theses

California is a globally important site for agricultural production, but the state is currently suffering from an unprecedented drought. One strategy to conserve water is dry farming, where growers cache moisture in the soil from off-season rain or early-season irrigation for crops to use throughout the growing season. Some California growers have dry-farmed tomatoes for decades. Recently, some have begun adding co-composted biochar (COMBI) to boost productivity and stimulate soil microbiology, particularly arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. To the best of my knowledge, no field research on dry-farmed tomato systems currently exists, let alone on the effects of COMBI amendments on yield, …

Black, Green, And Young: A Case Study Assessing Implementation And Outcomes Of An Environmental Science, Technology, Engineering And Math Curriculum For Youth In West Oakland, California, Ashari A. Taylor-Watson

Master's Theses

Environmental racism plagues low-income communities of color through exposure to environmental hazards, and the youth are most vulnerable. Environmental science, technology, engineering, and math (E-STEM) curriculums promoted as tools for corrective justice. Using a West Oakland, California Boys and Girls Club as a case study, I first describe the environmental awareness, attitudes, and actions of a group of six- to 13-year-old, predominantly African - American, children from this low-income community. I then examine the possible impacts of an E-STEM curriculum on participants, and I identify staff- and researcher-identified challenges to its implementation. During the study, the cohort experienced a heightened …

Information Literacy Skills Influence On The Utilisation Of Electronic Information Resources Among Nigerian Students: Polytechnic Experience, Ganiyu Oluwaseyi Quadri, Sekinat Abiodun Alasa Mrs

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study investigates information literacy skills influence on EIR utilisation among two polytechnics students in South-west Nigeria. The descriptive research design was employed for this study and the population consisted of polytechnic students from The Polytechnic, Ibadan and Federal Polytechnic, Ede. There were 7610 students from both polytechnics. Simple random technique was employed with a sample fraction of 5% was drawn amounting to 381. The questionnaire was the main instrument used for data gathering and the questionnaire was pre-tested using Cronbach-alpha to determine the reliability co-efficient. Data collected was analyzed using SPSS and PPMC. It was found in the study …

Urban Edge Effects On Soil Conditions, Stand Structure, And Understory Composition In A Coast Redwood Forest, Nanako Oba

Master's Theses

Forests in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) can experience edge effects caused byhuman activities, such as timber harvest and urban development, altering vegetation composition and structure. Both the WUI and resulting edge effects are well studied in general; however, the influences of the urban edge on coast redwood forests specifically are not well understood. I analyzed soil properties, stand structure, and understory composition in a coast redwood preserve in the Santa Cruz Mountains, California using twenty 300 m transects established across an anthropogenic edge and twenty transects within a forest interior control. Spearman’s rank correlations indicated that several variables exhibited positive …

The Human Right To Water And Sanitation: Using Natural Language Processing To Uncover Patterns In Academic Publishing, Christopher Michael Faulkner, Joshua Earl Lambert, Bruce M. Wilson, Matthew Steven Faulkner

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

After years of advocacy and international negotiation, the General Assembly of the United Nations voted to officially recognize a stand-alone human right to water and sanitation on 28 July 2010. Since, academic scholarship has continued to grow in an effort to understand the implications of the codification of this human right. Yet, with this growth, it has become impractical if not impossible for scholars to keep up with the advancement of academic knowledge or to make sense of it in a systematic way. In short, to date, we know very little about the trends in the literature as they have …

Fuel Load, Stand Structure, And Understory Species Composition Following Prescribed Fire In An Old-Growth Coast Redwood (Sequoia Sempervirens) Forest, David Cowman, Will Russell

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Background: With the prevalence of catastrophic wildfire increasing in response to widespread fire suppression and climate change, land managers have sought methods to increase the resiliency of landscapes to fire. The application of prescribed burning in ecosystems adapted to fire can reduce fuel load and fire potential while minimizing impacts to the ecosystem as a whole. Coast redwood forests have historically experienced fire from both natural and anthropogenic sources, and are likely to respond favorably to its reintroduction. Results: Random sampling was conducted in three burned sites and in three unburned sites, in an old-growth coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens [D. …

Spartan Daily, November 30, 2021, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2021

Volume 157, Issue 41

Exploring The Role Of Academic Social Networking Sites Amongst Lis Professionals: A Meta-Narrative Review, P.M. Naushad Ali, Sharaf Zehra, Priya Vaidya, Zainab Musheer

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Academic Social Networking Sites (ASNS) has revolutionized the concept of knowledge sharing and publication pattern in academia. It offers a new paradigm to interrelate research scientists globally, influencing research communities' structure and crescendos (dynamics). This changing trend has attracted considerable attention in the research domain and the consequent impact on library & information science professionals. Due to the high operationalizing ability of these networking sites, it provides online services of collaboration and knowledge sharing. The present study reviewed 23 studies from the past that highlights the methodologies, usage pattern of ASNs, impact on professionals, different categories of services, and issues …

Elemental Relations: Fire & Culture, Daniel Lanza Rivers

Assignment Prompts

This assignment functions as the capstone task for my course AMS 159: Nature and World Cultures, and it asks students to use textual analysis, external research, and creative teamwork to produce installation material for the SJSU Thompson Art Gallery’s upcoming event series “Protecting Home: Sustainable Fire Management and the California Environment.” Throughout the third unit of my course, students are reading Stephen J. Pyne’s book Fire: a brief history. This assignment tracks with our reading of that text, and asks student teams to select a topic, facilitate classroom discussions of a chapter related to their topic, and then use research …